Snowy days enhance the sun's harmful rays

(NC)—There’s nothing more Canadian than braving the winter weather to spend a day outdoors at a local pond or ski hill during the winter months. Whether you’re pulling on a pair of ice skates, ski boots or snowshoes, or strapping on a snowboard, most Canadians aren’t afraid to enjoy outdoor activities, despite the chill. What you don’t know about the dangers of the winter, sun, however, might leave you cold.

Health Experts say the sun can be damaging and potentially dangerous to your skin during the winter months, with snow and ice reflecting up to 80 per cent of UV radiation—eight times more than water. Canadians need to keep this in mind, as the incidences of melanoma—the most aggressive and deadliest form of skin cancer—has more than tripled over the last 30 years and continues to increase.

Canadian Olympic Ski Cross athlete, Julia Murray, knows firsthand the devastating effects winter sun can have on the skin. In 1990, her father Dave Murray, famous Canadian skier and member of the Crazy Canucks, passed away from a deadly form of skin cancer called melanoma. Her message now to Canadians: winter sun poses a real risk, so protect yourself.

If you have a fair complexion, you are at greater risk of skin cancer. It’s important, however, for everyone to protect their skin and eyes during the winter season. Be sure to apply a full spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and reapply it every two hours. In addition, as well as wearing sunglasses or sun protective goggles, health experts advise to check your skin regularly for abnormal, new or changing moles.

More information about skin cancer, including tips on how to detect and protect, is available online at www.melanomanetwork.ca.

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Tags: dry skin tips, Snowy days enhance the sun's harmful rays, winter skin, winter skin care, winter skin tips

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Hands on winter rescue

(NC)—The human hand has 27 bones; eight in the wrist; five in the palm and the rest are in the fingers. This might sounds like a lot—but during the winter season they are put to the test. Between shoveling snow and the dry winter air, you have to take care of your hands.

One of the easiest ways to do this is by keeping your skin moisturized. Men can have a hard time with this since their skin is often thicker than women’s*, so a lotion that isn’t designed specifically for men’s needs often isn’t enough. However, there are great lotions available that are uniquely designed to fortify men’s skin to help make it resilient and perform efficiently, like the fast absorbing and extra strength body and face lotions from Vaseline Men.

You can visit facebook.com/vaseline for more tips about the importance of moisturizing.

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Tags: Hands on winter rescue, men's skin care, winter skin, winter skin care, winter skin tips

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Don't forget about your skin this winter

(NC)—The new year is in full swing and getting in shape after the holiday season is top-of-mind for everyone. However, while you’re fulfilling your resolutions by lifting weights and running on the treadmill, don’t forget about your body’s largest organ: your skin.

Keeping your skin moisturized, especially in the winter months, is an important step to keeping your body in top form. Skin is the body’s first line of defense—the stronger, it is the more it protects. So next time you are at the gym, you could try finishing your work out by moisturizing with a lotion like Vaseline Men extra strength hydrating body and face lotion. The lotion defends against dryness and has a light-weight, non-greasy formula.

More information on the importance of moisturizing is available at facebook.com/vaseline.

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Tags: Don't forget about your skin this winter, vaseline, Vaseline men, winter skin, winter skin care

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New year, new you: Great tips for healthy skin, hair and nails in 2012

(ARA) – The new year is a great time to make some resolutions to keep your skin, hair and nails healthy. Your dermatologist can help you with these resolutions. Dermatologists are medical doctors and surgeons who have extensive training, experience, and passion for keeping skin, hair, and nails healthy throughout a person’s lifetime. Here are tips to keep you healthy looking from head to toe.

* Protect your skin from the sun. Help prevent signs of aging, such as age spots and fine lines, as well as limit your risk of developing skin cancer by using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing (a long-sleeved shirt, pants, wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses) and seeking shade when appropriate. Choose a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 and broad-spectrum protection (protects against ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays).

* Do not use tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you’ve been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product (such as a lotion, foam or spray), but continue to use sunscreen with it.

* Perform a skin self-exam. Examining your skin for suspicious moles and other lesions could save your life. Use the American Academy of Dermatology’s body mole map, located at www.aad.org, to record your moles and learn how to perform a proper skin exam. If you find a suspicious lesion, make an appointment to see a dermatologist.

* Don’t skip the hair conditioner. Dermatologists recommend using a conditioner after every shampoo. While a conditioner cannot repair hair, it can increase shine, decrease static electricity, improve strength, and offer some protection from harmful UV rays.

* Eat a healthy diet. A diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and other healthy foods can lead to healthier skin. Be sure to include some lean protein in your diet. Your skin is made of protein, so some protein is necessary for healthy skin.

* If your skin feels dry, moisturize. After bathing is the best time to moisturize so that you can trap water in the skin. If your skin still feels dry with regular moisturizing after bathing, apply moisturizer a few times throughout the day.

* Stop smoking. People who smoke expose their skin to toxins that accelerate the aging of their skin. And, the repeat puckering to inhale can cause deep lines around the lips. Frequent squinting to avoid getting smoke in one’s eyes can cause noticeable crow’s feet.

* Manage stress. To keep your skin looking its best, it is important to effectively manage stress. Chronic stress can wreak havoc on your skin, hair and nails. It can worsen many skin conditions, including psoriasis, acne and rosacea, cause brittle nails and ridging of the nails, and lead to hair loss.

* Don’t bite your fingernails. You can transfer infectious organisms between your fingers and mouth. Also, nail biting can damage the skin around your fingers, allowing infections to enter.

* If you have acne, do not pick, pop, or squeeze the blemishes. People mistakenly believe that picking and popping pimples will get rid of them quickly. The truth is doing any of these can irritate the skin, make acne worse, and increase the risk of scarring.

* The American Academy of Dermatology has additional tips for choosing the right doctor for your cosmetic procedure. There are a growing number of non-physicians and other doctors performing cosmetic surgery outside their scope of training. To protect your health and safety, find a doctor who specializes in the specific procedure you are considering. Board-certified dermatologists have the medical and surgical education and experience to perform cosmetic surgery and have pioneered many advances in cosmetic surgery, including tumescent liposuction, laser surgery and hair transplantation.

For more healthy skin, hair and nail tips, visit the American Academy of Dermatology’s website at www.aad.org.

Tags: dry skin tips, hair and nails in 2012, New year, new you: Great tips for healthy skin, skin care tip, skin care tips, winter skin tips

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Soy delivers natural beauty benefits

(NC)—Did you know that the soybean has special benefits for your hair and skin? Here’s a snapshot of its magic, courtesy of leading skincare line, Aveeno:

Evens skin tone: Early scientific research shows exclusive total soy proteins work to reduce the appearance of blotchiness and skin discolourations.

Smoothes and softens skin texture: Soy also helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving the skin a softer, younger look and feel.

Makes hair softer, finer and less noticeable: Specific components of naturally active soy have been shown to improve hair softness and fineness.

Moisturizes skin: Vitamin E is a natural component of soy with anti-oxidant properties, which helps to protect the skin from drying environmental stresses.

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Tags: Aveeno, Aveeno tips, soy, Soy delivers natural beauty benefits, soy for skin

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Soy: The secret to radiant skin

(NC)—The soybean is easily overlooked – but it has been shown that this tiny legume might help change how you feel, and even how you look.

Soy isn’t just a health food anymore. In addition to being packed with beneficial nutrients and working wonders when it comes to improving bone health, reducing cholesterol, and relieving menopausal symptoms, soy is quickly becoming a proven staple in skin care.

For years, Asian soybean factory workers who handled soy regularly had hands that were especially smooth and even-toned.

“Soy offers multiple benefits inherent in its natural composition, including a rich source of protein, a rich mixture of lipids, and carbohydrates, which are ideal for moisturization. When combined with a mixture of various vitamins with antioxidant benefits, skin can become more radiant,” says Toronto-based dermatologist, Dr. Paul Cohen.

According to research by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc., soy proteins can help to even out skin tone by working to reduce blotchiness and discolouration, as well as smooth and soften skin texture, all while moisturizing.

With this insight in mind, Aveeno, a brand known for creating innovative active naturals technologies that combine nature with science, formulated their exclusive total soy complex. It was created in a unique way, processing the soybean so it retains its naturally active benefits and ultimately provides a concentrated form of soy. Total soy complex is found in the brand’s Positively Radiant daily moisturizers.

Most recently, the company added a new eye product containing total soy complex to its skincare roster. The new Positively Radiant eye illuminator features a mixture of tone-evening soy and vitamin B3, plus light-diffusing technology to help enhance skin’s natural radiance. The innovative design of the brush applicator helps target the areas most in need.

More information on Aveeno active naturals ingredients can be found online at aveeno.ca or Facebook.com/AveenoCanada.

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Tags: Aveeno, Avenno.Ca, radiant skin, skin care tips, soy, Soy: The secret to radiant skin

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Breakthrough hydrating ingredient fights fatigued-looking skin

(NC)—Simple everyday stress can rob the skin of essential nourishment and hydration. Poor diet, sun exposure, a hectic lifestyle and lack of sleep, often result in noticeably tired skin that looks dehydrated and dull.

Toronto-based dermatologist, Dr. Paul Cohen says: “Often, people don’t realize that the skin can in fact look ‘stressed’ or ‘fatigued’ due to simple environmental factors like pollution and inadequate nutrition or sleep.”

The signs of fatigued skin can be daunting, but the experts agree that hydration is key in restoring skin to its natural beauty.

“Hydration can help to fight tired-looking skin, including dehydration, dullness, dry spots or patchiness, under-eye circles and even the occasional pimple,” Dr. Cohen explains.

While there are many moisturizing products on the market meant to hydrate the skin, few contain clinically-proven ingredients that have been shown to actually replenish and retain moisture on a cellular level.

Aveeno, a brand known for its innovative active naturals technologies that combine nature with science, has harnessed the powers of “southernwood”, an up-and-coming ingredient, to help combat dry, stressed skin caused by environmental factors. This ingredient is contained in the new Aveeno Fresh Essentials line of facial care products, specifically formulated to battle the visible signs of stressed skin.

The southernwood extract is found in the gardens and foothills of Europe and has traditionally been used for its digestive benefits. Now however, Aveeno scientists are utilizing its natural combination of sugars and polyphenols that attract and help to bind water to skin to help nourish and hydrate. This protects against the dehydrating effects of environmental stress, as the formulas help replenish and retain moisture in tired skin, leaving skin looking and feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

www.newscanada.com

Tags: Aveeno, Breakthrough hydrating ingredient fights fatigued-looking skin, skin care tips, skin care trends, treatment of tired skin

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Anti-aging beauty tips can help you prove that age is just a number

(ARA) – In a society focused on youth, aging remains a fact of life. Thankfully, scientific advancements and product innovations make it easier than ever to diminish dreaded signs of aging.

Thinning hair is considered to be one of the most worrisome signs of aging, second only to wrinkles. In a study conducted by Nioxin, the No. 1 stylist choice for thinning hair, it was discovered that women are particularly apprehensive about seeing their locks lose density.

Doctors and scientists know that as a person ages, changes occur from the head down, and it is important to practice an anti-aging regimen that targets every area of the body. Leading dermatologist Dr. Valerie Callender shares her top tips for looking youthful.

* Get thicker, fuller looking hair: Full, healthy hair is the ultimate sign of youth and 87 percent of women ages 18-55 feel a strong enough connection to their hair to consider it a part of their personality. But as chance might have it, as many as three out of four people in the United States experience hair thinning. “Thinning hair can be a result of poor scalp health,” says Callender. “It’s important to clean and refresh the scalp, and for that I like Nioxin Hair and Scalp Systems.” Nioxin Systems deliver thicker, denser looking hair in 30 days guaranteed.

* Keep skin glowing: Not surprisingly, wrinkles are a major concern among women. The beauty industry is saturated with anti-aging creams, serums and lotions, but most consumers aren’t reaping the maximum product benefits. To do so, it’s essential to exfoliate daily. “Dead skin cells build up and form a barrier, making it difficult for products to penetrate the various layers of skin,” cautions Callender. “Once you’ve created a clean base, protect your freshly glowing skin from the sun’s rays and free radicals by applying a daily broad-spectrum sunscreen year round.”

* Eat right: A healthy diet affects not only weight, but can help maintain healthy, lustrous hair and glowing skin as well. “The right diet nourishes the entire body from the scalp down,” says Callender. A diet rich in protein and iron is essential for a healthy scalp, and foods full of antioxidants promote glowing skin. For this purpose, enjoy salmon and beans for healthy, lustrous hair, and blackberries, strawberries and plums for radiant skin.

* Maintain a white, healthy smile: Stained and discolored teeth can make you appear older and unhealthier than you are. Be sure to get teeth cleanings with a dental professional at least twice a year and floss at least once a day. Whitening toothpastes with peroxide are great for removing stains, and at-home teeth whitening strips are easier and more convenient to use than ever before. A smile says a lot about a person, so keep it healthy and youthful.

Tags: Anti-aging beauty tips can help you prove that age is just a number, beauty tips, Nioxin, skin care tips, skin tips

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Safe, simple and affordable healthy skin tips for men and women

(ARA) – Whether you are male or female, you likely have some key elements to your health routine like exercise, good food, rest and regular medical and dental check-ups. Taking care of your skin probably isn’t a part of this important list – but it should be. Your skin is a living organ and a first line of defense against the outside world. Your skin protects you from environmental toxins and pathogens, gets rid of waste, regulates healthy body temperature and is ultimately the picture of health the world sees.

Men are often guiltier of neglecting healthy skin care than women. Maybe skin care isn’t considered manly enough, or maybe men simply feel that beyond a good scrub and shave nothing else is needed. And the barrage of high-priced, celebrity-endorsed anti-aging products sold by powerhouse cosmetics companies for women contributes to the notion that skin care is a luxury for well-to-do women rather than an important aspect of a healthy everyday lifestyle.

What’s not in your skin care products is just as important to your health as what is in your skin care products. Control what goes on your body by making and using a few essential oil-based products yourself that that don’t contain any of the chemical preservatives and synthetic fragrances often found in expensive skin care products. Why pay for what you don’t need when you can create more affordable, natural and healthy skin care products – with a custom scent of your liking – on your own?

One hundred percent pure and natural essential oils from a reputable company such as Aura Cacia provide a natural way to scent your homemade skin care products. Here are the essential oil scents that tend to be favored by men and women and some do-it-yourself natural alternatives to the commercial products cosmetic companies offer.

Masculine Scents
* Cedarwood
* Frankincense
* Myrrh
* Sandalwood
* Vetiver

Feminine Scents
* Geranium
* Jasmine
* Neroli
* Rose
* Ylang Ylang

Neutral Scents
* All citrus oils
* Eucalyptus
* Lavender
* Patchouli
* Peppermint

Cleanser
Maintaining clean skin is important for men and women because a good wash removes the build up of accumulated toxins and allergens from the outside environment while it removes dead skin, oil, bacteria and odor. Cleansing stimulates cell turnover and renewal. A gentle, natural liquid soap made with a wholesome vegetable oil such as olive or sweet almond is the best cleanser you can use. Good old-fashioned soap is a very effective cleanser – but it might be drying for sensitive individuals or with repeated use, so make sure you follow up with moisturizing oil afterwards.

Ingredients:
1 cup unscented liquid vegetable oil-based soap
2 tablespoons water or unflavored green tea
48 drops essential oil or blend of oils of your choice

Directions:
Combine soap, water (or tea) and essential oils in a small bottle. Apply about 1 tablespoon to a soft, wet washcloth and gently scrub damp skin in a circular buffing motion (not for too long or with too much force). Rinse with warm (not hot) water.

Moisturizer
It’s essential to re-hydrate the skin after cleansing. Washing with soap lifts away dirt, makeup and dead skin, leaving skin bright and pores clear, but it also strips skin of its natural protective (and wrinkle-fighting) oil known as sebum. A light-bodied, absorbent and non-clogging oil such as grapeseed, jojoba or rosehip oil can be applied to still-damp skin after rinsing off your liquid soap-based cleanser to perform the same function as costly lotions and creams at a fraction of the price.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup grapeseed oil
1/2 cup jojoba oil
48 drops essential oil or blend of oils of your choice

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a small bottle, apply a teaspoon to the palm of hand, rub hands together and smooth over damp, freshly cleansed skin. The oil will seal in moisture and protect against dehydration.

Toning and hydrating mist
As the day goes on, you’ll inevitably lose your fresh glow. Some areas of your skin might become increasingly dry, while others might be oily. A simple mixture of pure water and protecting essential oils like lavender and geranium can help diminish an oily appearance and moisturize dry areas while the oils provide healthy protection.

Ingredients:
1 cup water
48 drops essential oil or blend of oils of your choice
Small spray mister bottle

Directions: Combine water and essential oils in bottle, shake vigorously and apply 2-3 spritzes of the mist to skin, smooth over surface if needed.

Good skin care isn’t as much effort as heavy lifting or running a marathon, but it’s a tool of health maintenance that can be as beneficial as hitting the gym. Man or woman, you should add it to your health routine. For more information and valuable skin care tips, visit www.auracacia.com.

Tags: clean pores, good skin, Safe, simple and affordable healthy skin tips for men and women, skin cleansers, skincare tips, women's skin care

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(NC)—It is true that many of the products we buy for the kitchen are useful in the bathroom too. Did you know that corn starch – the ingredient we count on to smooth a sauce and thicken a pie – is also a high–performer for skin and beauty needs?

“Corn starch is a white granular carbohydrate that occurs naturally in the endospermof the corn kernel,” says Sonia Derhak at ACH Foods, the local distributors of Fleischmann’s Canada Corn Starch and Benson’s Corn Starch. “The granules readily absorb moisture off recreational items like athletic shoes– but better still, corn starch is also100% pure and natural so it delivers benefits to the human skin too.”

Take a look at these homespun quick tips for low–cost skincare, courtesy of Fleischmann’s Canada and Benson’s Corn Starch:

• Treat sunburn: Soothe the skin by mixing 1cup (250 mL) corn starch into a tub of warm water. Soak 20 to 30 minutes. Or, to create a dressing: stir 1 tablespoon (15 mL) each of corn starch and baking soda, into two quarts (2 L) of warm water. Dip in a gauze pad and let it rest on the sunburn for several minutes.

• Soothe the baby: Pure corn starch is a natural and economical baby powder. Simply refill an empty powder dispenser and apply it every day to protect against diaper rash. In the bath, add 1/4 cup (50 mL) corn starch to each gallon/4 liters of water. Pat dry and it will leave baby’s skin silky smooth.

• Calm the itch: Soak yourself in a tub of warm water mixed with 1 cup (250 mL) of corn starch.

• Powder yourself: Pure corn starch has no perfumes or talc and makes a nice light bath powder. Or, extend the quantity of a commercial bath powder by mixing 1 cup (250 mL) corn starch with 1/2 cup (125 mL) bath powder. To scent it, mix in layers of fragrant flower petals. Let the mixture sit for a day, remove the petals, and repeat until the desired fragrance is achieved.

For additional tips, visit the Did you Know? section at: www.achfood.ca.

www.newscanada.com

Tags: Benson's Corn Starch, corn starch, Fleischmann's Canada Corn Starch

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